Card not recognized

I've been having some serious problems with my Dell Dimension 8400 computer, including losing my hard drive twice, my network card(probably), and, for the past few months, I can't load a driver for my 1704FPT monitor. Moreover, in the Dell "present" configuration it shows no card loaded, but it's in there. I've unplugged and plugged it back in, checked cables and connectors, etc., but to no avail.

I run off a Belkin huge battery backup, with surge protector, but from the problems I've had I'm suspecting that somehow a surge made it through, sometime. Replacing the network card re-established my network connections, e.g. And my monitor is failing after about 20 minutes of running.

I have replaced the hard drive twice . . . first time about 1-1/2 years ago, and then again six month later. Lost everything, of course. But the problem right now is the monitor.

FYI - in 1992 I bought a 386 sx, which was still working fine 15 years later, just SLOOOOOOOOW. Wouldn't run most of my programs. I'm still using a Compaq my wife bought me in 1995, because it runs the DOS drivers for my cad plotter . . . but it, too, plugs right along. Why shouldn't I expect the same of a more recent unit?I have replaced the hard drive twice . . . first time about 1-1/2 years ago, and then again six month later. Lost everything, of course. But the problem right now is the monitor.

FYI - in 1992 I bought a 386 sx, which was still working fine 15 years later, just SLOOOOOOOOW. Wouldn't run most of my programs. I'm still using a Compaq my wife bought me in 1995, because it runs the DOS drivers for my cad plotter . . . but it, too, plugs right along. Why shouldn't I expect the same of a more recent unit?

So far Farcry1010 has the most useful response; I was able to download a driver, which proved to be the right one, and which I thought I had installed before. That made the monitor work as it's supposd to, except that it still stalls, and goes black. Interestingly, I found by accident that if I rapped on the screen with some determination, I could restart the display, and it would stay lit for varying amounts of timem from a few minutes to over four hours, but eventually it would fail again. Mechanical problem, I woud guess; I've checked all the connections and everythiong's tight, clean, etc. New monitor, I guess.

So far as the disk goes, I've replaced the hard drive twice. I was unable to format it, or even get the computer to recognize there was a hard drive in place, each time. I could boot from a floppy, and I tried one program for disk recovery, but right now those two valuable disks are in a drawer, waiting until I can get at them and recover a lot of stuff I hadn't backed up in several months . . . I'd have been more careful about that except that I paid a good penny and my computer wasn't very old, with massive storage . . . . .

Thanks to all. Any other suggestions, like how to get to the pc board in the monitor and look for loose lands, etc., would be appreciated. LONG time out of warranty.

JLJames So far Farcry1010 has the most useful response; I was able to download a driver, which proved to be the right one, and which I thought I had installed before. That made the monitor work as it's supposd to, except that it still stalls, and goes black. Interestingly, I found by accident that if I rapped on the screen with some determination, I could restart the display, and it would stay lit for varying amounts of timem from a few minutes to over four hours, but eventually it would fail again. Mechanical problem, I woud guess; I've checked all the connections and everythiong's tight, clean, etc. New monitor, I guess.

So far as the disk goes, I've replaced the hard drive twice. I was unable to format it, or even get the computer to recognize there was a hard drive in place, each time. I could boot from a floppy, and I tried one program for disk recovery, but right now those two valuable disks are in a drawer, waiting until I can get at them and recover a lot of stuff I hadn't backed up in several months . . . I'd have been more careful about that except that I paid a good penny and my computer wasn't very old, with massive storage . . . . .

Thanks to all. Any other suggestions, like how to get to the pc board in the monitor and look for loose lands, etc., would be appreciated. LONG time out of warranty.

Misunderstanding here - I haven't tried to install a new card. My hard drive quit, and in reinstallling software to a new drive, I appaantently loaded what I tyhought was the proper driver for my existing card, but after going to MS's website I found it wasn't. The driver I downloaded there has remedied almsot everything except the basic problem I'm having with my monitor, which, after some experimenting, seems to be a bad connection inside the case.

Anyway, thank you for your replay.

JLJamesRODGANDYSR -
Misunderstanding here - I haven't tried to install a new card. My hard drive quit, and in reinstallling software to a new drive, I appaantently loaded what I tyhought was the proper driver for my existing card, but after going to MS's website I found it wasn't. The driver I downloaded there has remedied almsot everything except the basic problem I'm having with my monitor, which, after some experimenting, seems to be a bad connection inside the case.

im glad to help alittle., It is so hard to to tell you where to look further without seeing it in front of me. Now as far as you formatting it what is it that you are formatting? Is this your main drive with operating system installed? if so and you did all your backups just use the Windows Operating System disc. When it tells you to boot from cd (make sure your boot sequence is to start from d:/ drive now when it asks you where to install it it will give you available options as far as partitions. since you already have one you must delete all partitions. now you will see your full disc drive capacity. now hit enter on the full partition. the next prompt will be fromat disc quick or just format do the second one it is a full format. this will give a good clean install.but get back to me here and make sure this is what you want to do. if you want email me here it is easier charles_farrah@comcast.netim glad to help alittle., It is so hard to to tell you where to look further without seeing it in front of me. Now as far as you formatting it what is it that you are formatting? Is this your main drive with operating system installed? if so and you did all your backups just use the Windows Operating System disc. When it tells you to boot from cd (make sure your boot sequence is to start from d:/ drive now when it asks you where to install it it will give you available options as far as partitions. since you already have one you must delete all partitions. now you will see your full disc drive capacity. now hit enter on the full partition. the next prompt will be fromat disc quick or just format do the second one it is a full format. this will give a good clean install.but get back to me here and make sure this is what you want to do. if you want email me here it is easier charles_farrah@comcast.net

if you can run windows update or better yet the microsoft update and dont choose the reccomended one choose the one that says custom and after it searches your computer on the left hand side you will see text stating hardware. click on that now on the right where it shows all your hardware you have updates for choose all of them as well as any recommended ones as well.if you can run windows update or better yet the microsoft update and dont choose the reccomended one choose the one that says custom and after it searches your computer on the left hand side you will see text stating hardware. click on that now on the right where it shows all your hardware you have updates for choose all of them as well as any recommended ones as well.

just the new windows do put more stress on the hardware new harddrives run at 7200 rpms and new operating systems are writing more and more info on your hard drives not like windows 95 or 98. the driver for your monitor is most likely for the usb hub incorporated into it. You shouldnt need this driver xp will autorecognize it. as long as you plugged in the usb cord to the monitor (check out picture it is #5 where you must plug in usb cord to computer)

as for your network card is this internal card or usb type

just the new windows do put more stress on the hardware new harddrives run at 7200 rpms and new operating systems are writing more and more info on your hard drives not like windows 95 or 98. the driver for your monitor is most likely for the usb hub incorporated into it. You shouldnt need this driver xp will autorecognize it. as long as you plugged in the usb cord to the monitor (check out picture it is #5 where you must plug in usb cord to computer)
as for your network card is this internal card or usb type

did you ever have to reformat the hard drive before? this computer is almost 4 years old. If not that is pretty good. with all service packs and updates and installing and uninstalling of software takes a toll on a hard drive as well as an operating system. I would consider buying a new hard drive they are pretty cheap today around 50 dollars for an OEM version and if you have your original xp disk do a fresh install meaning you will have to do a backup of your files and documents.did you ever have to reformat the hard drive before? this computer is almost 4 years old. If not that is pretty good. with all service packs and updates and installing and uninstalling of software takes a toll on a hard drive as well as an operating system. I would consider buying a new hard drive they are pretty cheap today around 50 dollars for an OEM version and if you have your original xp disk do a fresh install meaning you will have to do a backup of your files and documents.

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if your computer came with a motherboard disc the sound
drivers could be on itclick start control panel administrive tools computer management device
manager scroll to sound,video and game controllers you might see a yellow
question mark? Right click to reinstall driversClick start control panel administrive
tools computer management device manager scroll to display adapters + to expand
you might see a yellow question mark ? or exclamation mark ! or a red x right
click select reinstall driversalso

One bad lead can cause a computer to continue on a cycle
or to shutdown or fail to detect your hard drive

Test all leads that attach to your hard drive including electrical
extensions,IDE,SATA

the leads from your ((motherboard to your hard drive)) make
sure they have a secure connection and are not faulty or just replace them
there probably old and faulty make sure all leads that are attached to your drives dvd\cd 3 1/2 inch
floppy have secure connections and are not faulty even the electic extensions
or just replace them they could be faulty a computer needs its connections to
continue its cycle and to have an end so any faulty leads will end up with a
computer error

Click start
control panel administrive tools computer management device manager scroll to
display adapters + to expand you might see a yellow question mark ? or
exclamation mark ! or a red x right click select reinstall driversalso you might uninstall the display
adapter restart your computer then reinstall the display adapter and its
drivers this would apply to the sound video and game controllers to hope this
helps

This is a very common problem with nVidia geforce 8400 and 8600 cards. Serach google with this "Defective Nvidia geforce card" and you will see lots of user facing same problem in HP, Dell etc..

I too have an Hp laptop with nvidia geforce 8400. I have faced similar
problems(screen got divided into 8 parts) in past for 3 times. Every
time I have to replace my motherboard at HP service center.... It is
caused by overheating of laptop that destroys the nvidia graphic card. Go to the service Center and ask for a motherboard replacement. hope this will help.....

a "GeForce XXXX" is a type of Video Card. It handles images, graphics, games, etc.

This has nothing to do with your Sound.

Do you plug your speakers into small holes near a bunch of other ports? I would guess Yes, as most computers have "integrated sound".

You could try a $10 PCI Sound Card.

Which is where you plug in an expansion card into your computer, and then use that device for outputting sound to speakers. Kinda like how you have a Video Card plugged in below the other ports.

Besides all of this, you could just have a software issue.Does sound ever stop when playing music or a game outside of iTunes?You did not say what version of Windows you have.You did not say what type of computer, ie. Make, Model,.Such as a Dell, Dimension, 4300.

It's a common problem with people wanting to customize Dell Dimension PCs. They are a great basic PC but weren't designed to be completely tricked out. The layout for the power supply is a bit different in most of their cases and to upgrade the power supply you usually have to physically alter the case =\ There are afew video cards that have a lower draw, but I'm not sure if they are going to be that great of an upgrade.

I don't know if you have tried this yet, but here goes......
When the PC first powers up, hit the F2 or delete key to enter the setup page. See if there is a spot where you can disable the onboard graphics, then save the settings, reboot the PC, and see if this helps the problem. And there is always the chance that the graphics card is no good. And nothing but a return, and a new card will solve the problem.

if you dont want to have to upgrade your power supply. your pc only has a 350w in it. i would suggest the Nvidia 8800 GT if you dont have a budget or the 8800 GS if you dont want to spend too much. both run 512mb and are superb for gaming. make sure you get some extra cooling in your pc so as not to overheat, these cards put out quite a bit of extra heat.both are compatible with the dimension 8400.

yes these cards uses a lot of power. Check to see if the power supply pushes enough power to run the video card. I think these card needs its own power source so make sure you use a sepearate cable from the powersupply to the video card and not share it with other components.

if you have less than 400w powersupply thne this is morelikely your problem